How to break and then fix a Harbor Freight  Trencher / Backhoe !

A look at my old second-hand Harbor Freight towable backhoe. One helluva machine but I broke it. IG @shawnebaines

[@pbc1951]

My 5 year HF Digger.... The Pivot Pin has hidden grease fitting... swing Left to see the back of where the pin is at.... 2 holes, one about 1" down from top, and one about 1" up from bottom.... They are way in there deep... standard Zerk in there.

[@fhuber7507]

5:10 There IS a grease zerk for that main swing pin. Swing the machine to its limit to access. Not easy to get at. I use the mini grease gun from Harbor Freight for that because it has a narrower zerk coupler. Normal zerk fitting, not a needle zerk.

[@shawnebaines8276]

Yes, I found it last year. I actually missed it because the previous owner had snapped it off.

[@DoubleMFarmHomestead]

Nice job Shawne. I've had mine for 5 years now and like you it never stops amazing me with the things it will do. Like any other piece of equipment it can and will break but, as you stated, proper greasing and maintenance will keep it going for a long time. I always tell people to just "work smart" and it will do what you want. I look forward to seeing more, new subscriber here.

[@shawnebaines8276]

Thanks for the encouragement. Today I’m working on replacing the cylinder on the arm because it blew a seal. I’m trying to put together a video on that, screw-ups and all, so maybe it’ll demystify the process. Love this little machine. Never ceases to amaze.

[@DoubleMFarmHomestead]

@@shawnebaines8276 I had to "rebuild" the cylinder on my boom last year for same reason. It's one of the easiest cylinders I've ever worked on. I've been sick and haven't had mine out in a while but hope to have a new video up soon. I'll be watching for yours.

[@shawnebaines8276]

The only real setback I had this morning was the new cylinder came without fittings. In removing the 3/8 fittings from the old cylinder I damaged one and soon discovered none available at Lowe’s, HD, TSC or Northern Tool. I had to Frankenstein one together and I’m still trying to work around it. I need this thing working last week! Lol

[@DoubleMFarmHomestead]

@@shawnebaines8276 Yea, finding those seems to be a major problem. Need to treat those fittings like gold. LOL

[@shawnebaines8276]

Wish I had known. It looks like a simple 3/8 fitting but I’ve been looking all over town for ANY fitting these hoses will fit. Odd threads or something. What a day! Good times.

[@goincasual]

Good videos and info. I just bought one myself and I'm impressed. You could remove the pivot pin now and grease the heck out of it if it's not too worn. I removed mine before I ever used it and loaded it up with grease. Like you I also ordered some extra pins. Keep us posted!

[@shawnebaines8276]

I packed it with grease when I installed the new one. On the replacement the bushing are captive. The one I took out was in dry, worn pieces. With proper periodic greasing I hope it will never need replacing again. The part, though, was only 25 bucks. Since the last dig my arm cylinder failed ( more fallout from that boulder ) I’ll try to post that repair, too.

[@jtsokiehobbyandadventures6666]

I have a mini ht10 excavator and use a cs2510 kioti for moving dirt. I don't like the backhoe for the kioti. Have to get off and on to much. Once you get use to using some equipment it gets easyer to now what you can do. Keep up the work

[@shawnebaines8276]

Yeah I prefer my digger separate. That way I get more function out of the tractor and I don’t have to take a backhoe on and off.

[@downhilltwofour0082]

At 1:08, I think I heard the engine try to start spontaneously? Your Mic is impressive! LOL I'll go on to your other vids too!

[@shawnebaines8276]

Haha. I know I sound like a predator engine salesman. Yeah - I can say that for an abused gasoline engines this one has really impressed. I’ve never done anything to it, and never seen anything like it. I may have just been lucky!

[@OliviaJ0409]

They are a grease fitting you have to move it to one side to see it

[@judylucas7596]

I just assembled my harbor freight backhoe on 8/29/22 and it does have grease fittings for the pivot pin (2 holes in the back of the casting ) just pivot the arm to one side and you have easy access.

[@shawnebaines8276]

Yes! Someone else pointed that out to me and I feel silly for never noticing it. I’m greasing it well now. The old pivot pin was still functioning, though noisy, but when I took it out it was in pieces. Hindsight…

[@phillipcarroll4533]

I will start putting mine together tomorrow, but I am interested to know how you assembled yours 12 days from now?(today being 08/17/22)😁😁😁😁

[@judylucas7596]

@@phillipcarroll4533 oops it was 7/29/22😁😁🤣. Or maybe I own a Delorean 🤣🤣🤣😁.

[@phillipcarroll4533]

@@judylucas7596 😁😁

[@flhusa1]

If you try using the brand of grease called GREEN GREASE you will find that you won't have to lubricate your machine but once a year or maybe longer it is a full synthetic grease and all i use on anything with a zerk fitting .

[@shawnebaines8276]

I’ll check into it. I snapped a couple of the fittings off on the trencher (pivot pin) and I need to get the old ones out and new ones in. Meantime I’ve been taking the top off and squirting grease down into it.

[@flhusa1]

@@shawnebaines8276 I think I used the extractor part of a 4 way tire valve stem tool to remove a broken zerk

[@williambixby3785]

This looks like something from the new Zelda game 😂

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

I tinker with small engine equipment I get free or at low cost and the reasons why they're thrown away almost always boils down to lack of maintenance. I now have a series of snowblowers from 1979 to a few years ago of the same exact model where the penny pinchers at this particular company have exacerbated this like a particular shaft for the transmission being supported by a roller bearing supported with plates that bolt on to no plates to bronze bushings to polymer bushings and finally just the thin sheet metal punched over an eight of an inch. My personal snowblower is the 79 with an overhead valve Briggs I took off a machine that turned to rust in 7 years again from lack of anything but oil changes. Anyways I just authored a book.

[@oleg84122]

Самодельный или заводской сборки?

[@shawnebaines8276]

Purchased second-hand.

[@RandyGrenningerSr]

How much is it 🎉

[@shawnebaines8276]

Not sure the current price. I bought mine used.

[@AlbiesProductsOnline]

Go not put grease in that pin it’s an oil pin use W30 non detergent oil

[@narendraa2853]

Where to buy this one.. Pls comment

[@coty397]

Harbor freight’s website